How I Accidentally Became A Dog Photographer
Once Upon a Time, There was a Puppy Who Needed a $5k Heart Surgery
Chapter 1 - Heart Murmur
Before my husband, Dillon, and I brought home new puppy, Fraser, in March 2021, we learned that our little bundle of joy suffered from a severe heart murmur. We were determined to do whatever we could to help our four-month-old West Highland Terrier.
Fraser was soon diagnosed with pulmonic stenosis — meaning his heart doesn’t allow the blood to flow freely out of it. 53% of puppies with the same severity of his condition don’t make it past their first year.
Chapter 2 - The $5,000 Surgery
To repair the obstruction in Fraser’s heart, he needed a $5,000 Balloon Valvuloplasty. I booked the surgery with the University of Minnesota veterinary hospital before I had any idea how I was going to pay for it — and I only had a month to figure it out.
Chapter 3 - One-Day Fundraiser
I decided I would hold a pet portrait fundraiser. I was already a brand photographer and had taken tons of my own dogs’ portraits so I gave it a try. I figured that even if only one person booked a session, I’d consider it a success.To my surprise, the fundraiser was a huge hit! Every session availability was booked and I even had walk-up appointments!
Fraser’s surgery was completely paid for from the fundraiser, plus a portion of his follow-up scans.
Chapter 4- Overwhelming support
I wasn’t prepared for the overwhelming amount of love, support, and generosity that came rushing in during the fundraiser.
We received donations without sessions being booked. Moreso, many people reached out to follow up about Fraser and see how he was doing after surgery!
Chapter 5 - Now What
Fraser’s surgery was deemed successful— though he will likely need daily medication for the rest of his life to manage his condition. As grateful as I was to have received. healthy bill of health, I knew that not every pet owner has a way to raise funds for a life-saving surgery as I did.
The money I raised only helped Fraser and I wanted to help more pets and pay it forward.
Chapter 6 - A New Passion
I had fallen in love with photographing dogs in a studio and creating dramatic portraits that their humans squealed over.
I launched The Dog Photog 4 months after Fraser’s surgery to continue working with pets and creating timeless portraits for their parents.
Chapter 7 - One Year Post-Surgery
In June of 2022, Fraser went in for a routine one-year post-surgery check-up.
We received far less positive news than we were expecting. Even though he is asymptomatic, he is already in Congestive Heart Failure. While his surgery was successful one year ago, his heart never appropriately developed enough to sustain a successful surgery. The 6-8 years we thought we would have with him is expected to be cut drastically short to less than one year.
Chapter 8 - 18 months post-surgery
In December 2022, Fraser went in for his quarterly echocardiogram. We were cautiously optimistic that perhaps we would receive good news, but were preparing for the worst.
Instead of needing to start preparing to say goodbye, Fraser’s doctor found that his echocardiogram and tests came back to show that he’s doing really well! Like… “medical marvel” well!
They aren’t sure why he’s remaining so stable with his congestive heart failure diagnosis, but they anticipate him to be with us for several years, instead of months!
Chapter 9 - May 19, 2023
After a night of restlessness, Fraser just wasn’t himself the morning of Friday, May 19, 2023. As any concerned Dog Mom would do, I called his vet at U of M and looked for guidance. His breath was short and heavy. He wasn’t interested in his food. He wouldn’t sit or lay down, just stand and stare at the floor. Without the option to secure a last minute appointment, I brought Fraser to the emergency room.
He was placed in an oxygen room to help ease his stressed breathing. The triage team ran blood work (came back normal) and a fast scan to analyze the state of his heart failure. They found fluid surrounding his heart and his lungs, causing the discomfort ant difficulty breathing. After a chest scan and a full ecocardiogram and running more lab work to check his kidney function, Fraser underwent a chest tap to remove the fluid from his chest (510ml to be exact). While it may sound short and sweet, Fraser was in the ER for 8 hours and underwent light sedation to accommodate the procedure. When we finally picked him up, he seemed as back to his normal self as possible- given the sedation in his system. Dillon met me at the ER so I wouldn’t have to cry alone. Waiting and hoping Fraser would be ok. We were faced with coming to logical decisions while we waited surrounding his quality of life and what the best path is for him (and ensuring it was not a decision we were maing selfishly).
Two weeks later, Fraser went in for what would have been his regular annual check-in with his cardio team. We arrived with optimistic mindsets, but were quickly brought back to down to reality. Fraser was in late-stage heart failure. The fluid had returned far more quickly than expected. They removed 520ml of fluid this time. With all other levels of health checking out with flying colors, Fraser’s medications were adjusted and we left with another 2 week check-up in the books.
Again, we returned optimistic, hearts full of love and hope. Fraser underwent another chest tap and had 375ml of fluid removed. His kidney functions and echocardiogram are still reading well and show that aisde from the heart failure, Fraser is in as good of health as can be expected. Our optimism is paying off— Fraser’s fluid collected slower than before which points to his medication being able to manage his symptoms. All good signs for my sweet, boi.
Chapter 10 - July 10, 2023
For the last month and a half, Fraser has gone had a check-up every 2 weeks, including a chest tap each visit. Seeing him recover from the chest taps each time is painful, but knowing that they are making his quality of life better makes it a little easier.
This check-up started the same as all the others. Check-in. Wait. Vitals. Update on his activity over the last 2 weeks. His eating habits. His bathroom activity. Wait. Fast scan. Wait.
This fast scan took longer than the rest. Fraser’s tech brought him back to us and gave us the news we were desperately trying to avoid.
“Fraser’s heart is encased in fluid. Fluid is floating around his chest and in between his heart and lungs. Fraser is in end-stage heart failure.”
But here was my 2 ½ year old Westie who seems like the medication is working, only to find out there’s nothing more that can be done. It’s been a painful journey, but I still wouldn’t change it for anything. Even with the pain, there has been so much joy. Fraser is such a bright light in my world— he’s perhaps the happiest dog I’ve ever met, still has energy to chase squirrels, bark at dogs strolling by outside his fence, and play with his big Pitbull/Lab sister like he’s invinsible.
I have learned so much from having to figure it all out as I went, opening a pet business sure, but mostly as a dog parent making hard, expensive decisions and trying to always keep his well-being at the forefront of my mind. We’re on this journey together until Fraser decides otherwise.